The National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City will open the “Route 66: From Trails to Truck Stops” exhibition starting in early February.
The exhibition will run from Feb. 6 to May 4, during Route 66’s centennial year.
Cowgirl Magazine had more details:
Visitors will see artifacts, maps, photographs and multimedia displays tracing the evolution of travel from early trade routes to modern interstate adventures. […]
The exhibition is organized around three themes: The Ways West, which examines Native trade routes and early migration trails; The Mother Road, chronicling Route 66’s rise during the Dust Bowl and its role in shaping America’s image of freedom and adventure; and Roadside Attractions, showcasing the boom in tourism, diners, motels and Western icons along the route.
“There is no better place to celebrate the centennial of Route 66 than right here in Oklahoma,” said Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell in a recent statement. “The Cowboy’s new exhibition will be a centerpiece of the 2026 centennial celebrations taking place throughout the state.”
On a related note, the museum is situated along an alignment of Route 66 in Oklahoma City.
(Image of an Oklahoma Route 66 sign in Chandler, Oklahoma, by scott.tanis via Flickr)